Daan Singh: He Left An Indelible Mark On Film Music

Rajendra Bora

In a rat race, many a times diamonds are frequently discarded and fakes reign supreme. Music Director Daan Singh who passed away in Jaipur on Saturday night (June 19, 2011) was one such gem who despite showing his worth did not get film offers.

He composed music for only three bollywood films of which one remained unreleased. But his compositions of the two films ‘My Love’ and ‘Bhool Na Jaana’ can never be erased from the memory of Hindustani Film Music (HFM) lovers and no history of Hindustani Film Music would be complete without mention of songs of the two films.

He was a pupil of legendry composer Khemchand Prakash who also hailed from Rajasthan. He was greatly appreciated in bollywood mehfils (sittings) attended by makers and breakers of the silver screen but never got any assignment. In fact big names in Hindi film music who listened his compositions in mehfils conveniently lifted his tunes to score songs in their films.

Ill luck apparently shadowed him in Mumbai. The very first assignment as a film music director film he got for ‘Ret Ki Ganga’ could not be completed. He got chance to score music for ‘Bhool Na Jaana’. ‘Bahadur Shah Zafar’ and ‘Matlabi’ but the films could not see the projection light in theaters. However, two songs recorded for ‘Bhool Na Jaana’, a film based on Indo-China war, were released by the music company and are now considered classic. ‘Pukaaro Mujhe Naam Lekar Pukaaro, Mujhe Tum Se Apni Khabar Mil Rahi Hai’ is one of the finest songs of Mukesh. Another song rendered by Geeta Datt ‘Mere Ham Nashin Mere Ham Navan Mere Paas Aa Mujhe Thaam Le’ is a soulful song written by Hariram Aacharya of Jaipur.

When given a chance to score for a big starrer film ‘My Love’ (Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Taigore) did not let the film down. Melodious compositions of this film instantly became big hit like ‘Zikr Hota Hai Jab Kayaamat Ka Tere Zalwon Kee Baat Hoti Hai and ‘Who Tere Pyaar Kaa Gam Ek Bahaana Tha Sanam, Apni Kismat Hi Kuchh Aisi Thi Ke dil Toot Gaya’. However the film bombed at box office.

His another film ‘Toofaan’ too had an evergreen song ‘Hamne To Pyaas Kiya’ sung by Mukesh and Asha Bhonsle which too lost without trace.

Intrigues of Bollywood saw that offers elude him which was ultimately Hindi Film Music’s loss. However, Bollywood’s loss was All India Radio’s gain where he reigned supreme for several years composing poetries of several great names in Hindi literature. When he was assigned by Delhi station of AIR to compose a poem by Sumitranandan Pant in music, the poet was apprehensive as to how a yound boy will do justice to a literary piece. Pant personally came to the studio and after listening Daan Singh's composition gave him a big hug and blessed him.

He recorded a large number of songs in Rajasthani for HMV which are still popular.

After a lot many years when Daan Singh got a chance to score for Jagmohan Mundara’s film, based on Rajasthani woman activist Bhanwari devi, ‘ Bawandar’ he did a tremendous job but film’s music was not properly marketed.

Talking to Hindustan Times some time ago he summed up his life in an Urdu couplet: “Yeh Roshni Hai Haqeeqat Mein Ek Chaal Logon,Ke Jaise Jal Mein Jhalakta Hua Mahal Logon. Darakht Hain to Parinde Nazar Nahin Aate, Jo Mustaq Hain Wohi Haq Se Bedakhal Logon.

(The obit piece was published in Hindustan Times on June 20, 2011 on page 2)